Bush To Saddam: "Good Riddance"

December 15, 2003 - Posted at 4:27 p.m. CDT

WASHINGTON, DC - President Bush says he has a message for Saddam Hussein..."good riddance."

At a White House news conference today, Bush called the former Iraqi dictator's capture this weekend a "great moment" for the Iraqi people, and he says they need to be involved in the process of trying Saddam.

Bush says the U.S. is working with the Iraqis to develop such a process - one that will stand up to "international scrutiny." The president says he has his own personal views of how to deal with Saddam, but he says it's the views of the Iraqi people that are important.

Responding to whether the arrest will speed up the pullout of troops from Iraq, Bush pledged to "stay the course" until the job is done. He says he can't put a timetable on the mission, and that the level of troops will depend on the security situation on the ground.

Bush says supporters of Saddam have "lost any hope of regaining power." He says, "the nightmare of Baathist tyranny is finally over." He adds, "the world is better off without you, Mr. Saddam Hussein." And he says when the heat was on, Saddam dug himself a hole and "crawled in it."

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